Eight members of the PCHS ‘STEAM team’ place at state

The eight members of Pulaski County High School’s first engineering team— the STEAM team— placed in the top 10 in each of their divisions this past weekend at the state TSA (Technical Students Association) competion, held in Fairfax.
The team will now be able to enter their biggest project at the national TSA competition in Denver in June.
Team members who competed include: Rachel Llaneras, Adam Johnson, Shea Davis and Stuart Quesenberry, who competed in the fashion design category of the competition and will be taking their project to nationals; Logan Tabor, Stuart Quesenberry-stuctural engineering; Daniel Albert, Josh Hamblin- manufacturing prototype; Hayley Sutphin- technical drafting.
&#34;This team has worked incredibly hard and continues to do so,&#34; said STEAM team advisor Georgette Yakman, PCHS technical education teacher.
Members of the team have been working to prepare for the state competition for several months, and some have been working since the beginning of the spring semester.
Team members were given an exit survey and were able to share their comments about this past weekend’s competition.
When asked what was the best part of the whole experience, students commented, &#34;walking across the stage in the grand ballroom to get our awards and seeing people respect us for all the hard work we did.&#34;
When asked how their team worked together, they said, &#34;we hardly knew each other when we started and are very different types of people. Now we work great as a team and talk to our friends about how each type of person is good at different things.&#34;
They added, &#34;We can be honest with each other about criticism and praise and it’s not bragging or complaining. Everyone knows we’re just saying things to make us a better team.&#34;
The students were also asked how this experience has affected their academics. They commented, &#34;it helped us learn to work better in teams and be more personally responsible,&#34; and &#34;it has
made everyone feel more proud and self-confident.&#34;
For the national competition in Denver, Yakman said the cost will be $1,000 per person for the entire trip, so the team will continue to seek donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals to help fund this trip.
She added that so far, the following donations have been made:
•Contributors up to $24: Donnie L. McPeak, Country Cottage, El
Ranchero, Fleamaster, Donnie’s Garage and U-Haul, Lowe’s, Bella’s
Restaurant
•Copper level contributors ($25-$49): Patty’s Kitchen, Joseph Quesenberry, James D. Miller, Sherlwood Albert, Northside Flower Shop, Shelton Accounting Service, Townside Center Hardware, Wade’s
•Bronze ($50-$99): H&R Block of Wytheville, Dublin Moose
Lodge 2360, Sybil Atkinson, Thompson & Litton, AMVETS, VT Wood
Sciences Department, New River Community Crime Watch Committee
•Silver ($100-$249): James Hardie, Bower Funeral Home, Krystal
Cambell, Janet Jonas, VT Apparel Department
•Gold ($250-$499): none yet
•Platinum ($500+): none yet

To make a donation to the STEAM team, contact Yakman at gyakman@pcva.us or (540) 643-0476.

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Eight members of the PCHS ‘STEAM team’ place at state

The eight members of Pulaski County High School’s first engineering team— the STEAM team— placed in the top 10 in each of their divisions this past weekend at the state TSA (Technical Students Association) competion, held in Fairfax.
The team will now be able to enter their biggest project at the national TSA competition in Denver in June.
Team members who competed include: Rachel Llaneras, Adam Johnson, Shea Davis and Stuart Quesenberry, who competed in the fashion design category of the competition and will be taking their project to nationals; Logan Tabor, Stuart Quesenberry-stuctural engineering; Daniel Albert, Josh Hamblin- manufacturing prototype; Hayley Sutphin- technical drafting.
&#34;This team has worked incredibly hard and continues to do so,&#34; said STEAM team advisor Georgette Yakman, PCHS technical education teacher.
Members of the team have been working to prepare for the state competition for several months, and some have been working since the beginning of the spring semester.
Team members were given an exit survey and were able to share their comments about this past weekend’s competition.
When asked what was the best part of the whole experience, students commented, &#34;walking across the stage in the grand ballroom to get our awards and seeing people respect us for all the hard work we did.&#34;
When asked how their team worked together, they said, &#34;we hardly knew each other when we started and are very different types of people. Now we work great as a team and talk to our friends about how each type of person is good at different things.&#34;
They added, &#34;We can be honest with each other about criticism and praise and it’s not bragging or complaining. Everyone knows we’re just saying things to make us a better team.&#34;
The students were also asked how this experience has affected their academics. They commented, &#34;it helped us learn to work better in teams and be more personally responsible,&#34; and &#34;it has
made everyone feel more proud and self-confident.&#34;
For the national competition in Denver, Yakman said the cost will be $1,000 per person for the entire trip, so the team will continue to seek donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals to help fund this trip.
She added that so far, the following donations have been made:
•Contributors up to $24: Donnie L. McPeak, Country Cottage, El
Ranchero, Fleamaster, Donnie’s Garage and U-Haul, Lowe’s, Bella’s
Restaurant
•Copper level contributors ($25-$49): Patty’s Kitchen, Joseph Quesenberry, James D. Miller, Sherlwood Albert, Northside Flower Shop, Shelton Accounting Service, Townside Center Hardware, Wade’s
•Bronze ($50-$99): H&R Block of Wytheville, Dublin Moose
Lodge 2360, Sybil Atkinson, Thompson & Litton, AMVETS, VT Wood
Sciences Department, New River Community Crime Watch Committee
•Silver ($100-$249): James Hardie, Bower Funeral Home, Krystal
Cambell, Janet Jonas, VT Apparel Department
•Gold ($250-$499): none yet
•Platinum ($500+): none yet

To make a donation to the STEAM team, contact Yakman at gyakman@pcva.us or (540) 643-0476.